Two face their accusers in court

November 29, 2010

COLUMBIA CITY â€” An officer with the Indiana Excise Police was to appear this afternoon before Judge Michael Rush in Whitley Superior Court for an initial hearing on theft and official misconduct charges while the Whitley County Circuit Court prepared for the second go-round of a child abuse and sexual misconduct with a minor trial that ended in a hung jury in August.
Aaron M. Bishop, 34, was arrested last week in connection with an Aug. 4 break-in of the Indiana Excise Police evidence room in Columbia City.
He was released later that day on $8,000 bond. At the initial hearing, a pre-trial conference was expected to be scheduled.
Both charges against Bishop are Class D felonies.
On Tuesday, the second trial of Dustin W. Shenberger of Pennsylvania will get underway.
Shenberger is accused of child molestation and sexual misconduct with a minor in connection with incidents that allegedly happened between him and a local woman, now 19.
The alleged victim was 13 and 14 years old when the alleged incidents occurred.
On Aug. 25, a jury of eight women and four men deadlocked after six hours of deliberation, failing to reach a verdict.
On Tuesday, Whitley County prosecutors will get their second chance to make their case against Shenberger, 36.
In the first trial, Shenbergerâ€™s defense attorneys argued that the alleged victim was fabricating the charges and that she has credibility issues.
The trial is expected to last two days.